Haven
/ˈheɪvən/
Definitions
2 meaningsA place of safety or refuge.
/ˈheɪvən/
A place of safety or refuge
The library was a haven for bookworms.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite comfy spot where you feel completely safe and relaxed, like your bed or a cozy library corner. That's a haven!
👶 For kids: A haven is a safe place where you can feel good.
More Examples
After the long journey, the hotel felt like a welcome haven.
The charity provides a haven for homeless people.
How It's Used
"The ship found a haven from the storm in the secluded bay."
"Her home was a haven from the stresses of her job."
"The sanctuary is a haven for endangered birds."
A harbor or port.
/ˈheɪvən/
A harbor or port
The ships were finally able to reach the haven after weeks at sea.
💡 Simply: Think of the haven as a safe harbor where boats go to feel safe. It’s a place where ships can hide from storms!
👶 For kids: A haven is a safe place for boats to go.
How It's Used
"The ships sought haven from the rough seas."
Idioms & expressions
safe haven
A place or situation that provides security or protection.
"Investors turned to gold as a safe haven during the economic crisis."
From Middle English haven, from Old English hæfen (“harbour, port”), from Proto-Germanic *habanō (“harbour, haven”), from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂p- (“to seize, take, hold”). Cognate with Dutch haven, German Hafen, and Old Norse höfn.
Historically used in nautical contexts to describe ports and harbors, the word expanded to describe places of safety and refuge.
Memory tip
Think of a safe place to go when you're feeling unsafe. It's your haven.
Word Origin
"harbor, port"